Foles took over last season when Carson Wentz tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee. Wentz is not expected to be ready when the Eagles begin defense of their title on Sept. 6 by hosting the Atlanta Falcons to open the NFL’s regular season.

The Patriots are the most recent team to win consecutive championships, winning Super Bowls 38 and 39.

And the Eagles will start their quest as the top team in the first AP Pro 32 poll of the 2018 season.

The Eagles received six of the 12 first-place votes and 367 points in balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL.

The Patriots, who have been to eight Super Bowls in the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era, were a close second — just as they were in the loss to the Eagles in Minneapolis. The Patriots received three first-place votes and finished with 366 points.

“As long as the Killer B’s, Brady and Belichick, reside in Foxborough, the Pats will loom as the team to beat,” said Ira Kaufman of SB Nation Radio.

The Minnesota Vikings, who lost to the Eagles in the NFC championship game, are No. 3. The Vikings added quarterback Kirk Cousins in the offseason to a team with high expectations.

“Is Kirk Cousins the answer? That’s the only question about this team,” Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams said.

The Los Angeles Rams, who won the NFC West last season, earned two first-place votes and are No. 4.

“(Brandin) Cooks dynamite in new offense,” Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki said of the speedy wide receiver who had 1,082 yards last season in New England.